Marla Boley said her husband, Frank, always wanted to own three things in his lifetime: a bar, a church and a fire truck.
He came closer to achieving his goal when he and Marla bought the former First United Methodist Church building at 104 S. Elm St., just off the square, in 2003.
Since then, they have been brainstorming about what to do with the 8,000 square feet of available space.
The product of their brainstorming is what will soon be known as the Shoppes at the Red Brick Church, a hodgepodge of businesses the Boleys started, including Akemi Amusements, which offers playground equipment, fencing and other outdoor equipment, Banzai Balloons and Novelties, The PIT, an arcade and snack shop and the newest attraction, Attic Treasures Antique and Craft Mall.
Boley said the idea for The PIT, which officially opened Aug. 15, was born about four years ago when she and her husband started talking about what to do with the building.
“We were first going to do the craft mall in here but then decided, no, there’s a full kitchen down there and the kids were starting junior high, so we decided to do this,” Boley said.
The Boleys’ daughters, Dani, 15, and Frankie, 12, were the inspiration for The PIT, which stands for the Panthers for Washington Middle School, the Irish for St. Patrick’s Catholic School and the Trojans for Central Grade School. But for out-of-towners or people not familiar with local schools, PIT stands for pizza, ice cream and treats.
“The girls’ friends were hanging out at the square, Washington Park or just wandering the streets,” Marla said. “My husband, who grew up in Washington and was a St. Pat’s grad, said besides the roller rink that used to be at Countryside Banquet Facility, there’s never been a place for kids to hang out in town.”
Boley said she wanted The PIT to be a comfortable, supervised place for children. Photos on the walls promote local schools, and whimsical paintings by Washington artist, Kristie Schmidt, give
The PIT a relaxed feel.
Frankie’s Fun Center provides entertainment with an old-fashioned arcade, where most games are still only 50 cents per play, pool tables and an air hockey table.
The snack shop serves, among other things, pizza, ice cream, chicken bites and cheese-filled bread sticks.
“Although people do come in as a family to order pizza, this really isn’t a restaurant. It’s more of a snack shop and ice cream place,” Boley said.
